Derby County have joined Huddersfield Town and Queens Park Rangers in the battle to land Blackpool’s CJ Hamilton, according to a report from journalist Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider.
The 28-year-old faces a difficult decision as the January window looms due to his contract at Bloomfield Road coming to an end in June 2024.
The Irishman has made 19 appearances so far this season in all competitions, scoring once and assisting an additional six goals, with them all arriving in League One. Two of those contributions arrived during Blackpool’s 4-1 win against Reading earlier in the campaign.
Hamilton arrived at Bloomfield Road in July 2020 from League Two side Mansfield Town on a free transfer and has made over 100 first-team appearances, contributing to 28 goals.
The Irishman also earned his first cap for his nation in June 2022 when he made a substitute appearance during their UEFA Nations League clash with Ukraine, with Ireland losing 2-1.
Blackpool are currently tied on points with Paul Warne’s Derby County in League One, with both sides sitting directly outside of the play-off places. However, the Rams have two games in hand and those six points could take them as high as fourth.
Meanwhile, Queens Park Rangers and Huddersfield Town are struggling at the bottom end of the Championship standings. Huddersfield find themselves directly above the relegation zone, four points clear whilst QPR are 23rd and five points off safety and are also under new management after Gareth Ainsworth’s dismissal.
However, with Hamilton’s contract set to enter the final six months, will he opt to fight for a new contract or push himself towards a new chapter away from the club?
Writer’s View
Hamilton has had a very impressive start to the season at Blackpool and the club will not want to lose the Irishman in January but they still face the threat of potentially losing him in the summer for free.
Therefore, the next few weeks in the lead-up to the January transfer window are very important for all parties involved in the deal but I do expect him to remain at Bloomfield Road unless the offer is persuasive enough.